Air India Ltd has expanded its fleet by ordering 100 additional Airbus aircraft, augmenting the existing 470-plane order to a total of 570. This move signifies a crucial advancement in the airline's growth strategy post its acquisition by the Tata Group. The latest order includes a mix of 10 wide-body A350 jetliners and 90 narrow-body A320 family aircraft. With India's robust air travel market, Air India is poised for enhanced connectivity and growth, bolstered by a commitment to excellence and innovation.
Air India Ltd has announced a significant expansion in its aircraft fleet, with the addition of 100 Airbus planes to its existing order of 470, bringing the total to 570 aircraft. This move marks a pivotal step in the airline's ambitious modernization and growth strategy following its acquisition by the Tata Group in January 2022.
The latest order includes 10 wide-body A350 jetliners and 90 narrow-body A320 family aircraft, featuring A321neo planes, as revealed in a statement released by the airline. Although the exact value of the order remains undisclosed by Air India, reports suggest that the deal is estimated to be valued at approximately $6.4 billion after industry-standard discounts.
In 2023, Air India, under the ownership of the Tata Group, placed its initial order for 250 Airbus and 220 Boeing jetliners, setting a global record at the time for the largest aircraft order. With this recent addition, Airbus now accounts for 350 of the 570 aircraft, which will cater to Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express.
Chairman of Tata Sons, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, expressed optimism about India's growing air travel market, stating, "India’s passenger growth outpaces the rest of the world. With improving infrastructure and a young, global population, Air India is poised for greater growth. These additional aircraft will help build a world-class airline connecting India to every corner of the world."
Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus, highlighted the importance of Air India's growth trajectory, affirming the company's commitment to supporting Air India's transformation under Tata's leadership through the 'Vihaan.AI' initiative.
Having already received six A350 aircraft from Airbus, Air India's total order now stands at 344 planes. Out of the 250 Airbus planes ordered in the previous year, 40 were A350s, with the remainder being A320 family jets. Additionally, Boeing has delivered 35 out of the 220 737 MAX jets ordered by Air India.
To ensure the seamless operation of its expanding A350 fleet, Air India has formed a partnership with Airbus' Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) for comprehensive maintenance and engineering services, aimed at maximizing reliability and performance.
The Indian aviation sector is witnessing substantial growth, with nearly 1,300 aircraft on order for delivery up to the mid-2030s, according to CAPA India. IndiGo, the leading Indian carrier, surpassed Air India's previous 470-plane order in June 2023 by securing 500 Airbus A320 family jets, along with an additional order for 30 A350 aircraft. Furthermore, Akasa Air, a new player in the market, placed an order for 226 Boeing 737 Max planes, reflecting the promising future of the Indian aviation industry.
コメント